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Friday, September 20, 2019
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It's beginning to look like fall in Durham... Courtesy Todd Selig
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Autumn 2019 in the Northern Hemisphere will begin on Monday, September 23rd.
We have already begun to receive questions about the date for Trick-or-Treating in Durham. We traditionally hold Trick-or-Treating here on the night before Halloween in order to separate small children going door to door in costumes from college age individuals who typically enjoy Halloween with more active celebration on the actual date for Halloween. Trick-or-Treating takes place from 5 - 7:30 PM on October 30th.
One nice thing about the Town Hall in Durham is that it is a LEED Silver facility, meaning that it is quite environmentally friendly. On sunny days, staff often find there is no need to turn on the lobby and hallway lights in the building. Natural light gently illuminates the space -- even as the days grow shorter.
And finally, the Durham Fire Department will hold an OPEN HOUSE on this Sunday, October 20th from 9 AM - 12:00 Noon at the fire station, 51 College Road, in recognition of Fire Prevention Week. This event is FREE and open to the public. If you have someone in your family who likes beautiful big red fire trucks and meeting especially friendly firefighters, this event is for you!
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FY 2020 BUDGET DEVELOPMENT - The vetting/winnowing process is under way because a draft 16% municipal tax rate increase is a nonstarter...
Business Manager Gail Jablonski has commandeered Administrator Selig's schedule so the two of them can work through budget issues and associated meetings.
On Tuesday Ms. Jablonski reported initial draft total FY 2020 budget projections, which show non-property tax revenues for next year decreasing by .2%, assessed value only modestly increasing by about ½% in 2020 (to be further reviewed), and initial requested expenditures from departments, boards, and external agencies increasing by $1,446,800 or 8.9% equating to a draft projected municipal tax rate increase for FY 2020 of just under 16%!
Mr. Selig would like to stress there is a tremendous amount of additional work to do and all numbers must be refined, tested, considered, and vetted. Expenditure requests will NOT all be included in what he proposes to the Town Council by the end of October … but it’s going to be just what we projected – a rigorous budget development process. Of note is the fact that departments did a very good job of outlining their needs and requests are not frivolous but rather appropriate recommendations. The crunch is on the revenue side.
At Tuesday's Leadership Team meeting, department heads were apprised of the numbers and asked to go back and prioritize their requests for consideration as part of the winnowing process to come.
Below are highlights of significant bottom line increases across a number of departments/areas:
Function - Requested FY 2020 $ increase over current budget
Elections - $8,990
Town Clerk/Tax Collector - $57,400
Administration - $42,850
Assessing - $15,320
HDC - $8,250
Other Gen Gov.- $117,500 (anticipated retirements, etc.)
GIS - $51,700
Police - $102,220
Police Details - $65,500
Fire - $344,225
Public Works - $206,350
Outside Social Agen. - $21,400
Recreation - $20,910
ORYA Program - $44,900 (an increase from $28,000 to $72,900)
Econ. Dev. - $22,920
Library - $35,565
CIP Cash Projects - $343,350
Additional positions requested: part-time sustainability/special projects coordinator/assistant town admin. in TA office beginning approx. 7/1/19 ($37,300), additional part-time position in Town Clerk/Tax Collector Office ($22,200), full time GIS person beginning 7/1/20 ($48,100), Fire Dept. Training OT ($54,000), Fire Dept. Suppression OT ($107,000), DPW part-time hours to support library building and grounds maintenance ($7,800), Library additional part-time hours/position ($15,200).
Mr. Selig, Ms. Jablonski, and Fire Chief Emanuel met with the Durham Planning Board on Wednesday, September 11th, to discuss the draft Capital Improvements Program (CIP). You can watch that presentation/discussion on DCAT On Demand HERE.
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SPENDING FREEZE IMPLEMENTED AT DURHAM FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR FY 2019
Due to unforeseen expenditures this year, particularly in the area of shift overtime coverage resulting from illness/injury related issues, the DFD finds that it is rapidly approaching tis total Fire Department budget allocation for 2019. In estimating known anticipated costs, contractual obligations, and projected overtime, expenditures have outpaced budget allocations with almost a full quarter left before closing the books for FY 2019.
In an abundance of caution, following discussions with Business Manager Jablonski and Administrator Selig, Fire Chief Dave Emanuel has implemented a temporary freeze on spending on all non-essential and unanticipated items.
The department staff will continue to monitor and evaluate the situation. We appreciate everyone's cooperation in monitoring and working through his situation.
Note, the Town is on a calendar fiscal year (1/1/19 - 12/31/19).
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FY 2019 BUDGET FOR LAND STEWARDSHIP COORDINATOR POSITION NEARLY EXPENDED FOR YEAR
Land Stewardship Coordinator Ellen Snyder has been very busy this year with a bevy of projects and at this point only has 38 hours remaining of budgeted funds/time.
The following is a list of priorities still to complete and estimated hours for each:
- Fogg #1 and Fogg #2 conservation easement monitoring and reports (3)
- Doe Farm: coordinate with contractor on parking lot upgrade (he anticipates 4 days of work) (6)
- Sept 28th volunteer work day - build 2 bridges, brush out trails, install sign posts (6)
- kiosk interpretive panels (writing/creating/printing/installing) (6)
- installing trail blazes (4)
- Milne volunteer work day in October (4)
- Thompson Forest interpretive panel and 2 trail bridges (work to be done by others, but some review/coordination/install) (3)
- Mill Pond Rd/knotweed invasive control (some coord with contractor (1)
- Beaudette reconn with NHFG on proposed trail bridge crossing (2)
- Invasive control at OR Forest and Doe Farm (coordinating remaining treatments in 2019 and invoice payments (3)
TOTAL estimate of hours = 38 hours
Does not include:
- prepping for or attending any remaining meetings in 2019 (LS, CC, or other)
- coordinating with Heritage Commission on interpretive panel for Doe Farm kiosk
- assisting Christine Soutter with town map
- any assistance with Orchard Drive Woods project
- review of Capstone conservation easement monitoring by consultant
- public walks in October to Doe Farm and Thompson Forest
- no other communications (I’ve been doing a lot of email)
This year was different in that we had a lot of interns and AmeriCorps assistance that Ellen spent a lot of time with. And we did a huge amount of work at Doe Farm and Milne. Ellen spent time on Orchard Drive Woods and related collaboration with NHFG and UNH. She also has been doing a lot of the map making and kiosk panel writing and creation.
By the end of this year we will have completed trail and other improvements on the Town’s biggest conservation areas (not including Wagon Hill Farm): Oyster River Forest, Spruce Hole, Thompson Forest, and Doe Farm. Milne took a lot of time despite its small size, due to location and previous land use impacts.
Next year, Ellen anticipates a shift to the Longmarsh Preserve, The Meadows and Orchard Drive Woods and trail, continued invasive work on multiple properties, continued website and other outreach info (including improved trail maps), boundary signage, among other projects.
A couple additional thoughts on related issues...
It would be prudent if the Town could continue/increase the knotweed control along town roads. Our contractor may be able to return to assist with the areas around Mill Pond Rd., but would be helpful to allocate some funds to hire a private contractor to treat other locations.
Sometimes Ellen is doing work that would be better handled (cost-wise) by a summer assistant or volunteers. Things such as weed trimming, checking trails, putting up trail signs, and such. We could try to create a volunteer crew for each property, although this also requires coordination. If we want to go this route, then we can develop a volunteer position description, have volunteers attend a short training on what we want them to do and not do, etc. Another or supplemental option is to have one of Mike Lynch's DPW summer crew help Ellen one day a week with some of the tasks, but the DPW staff is already overstretched.
Our Land Stewardship Coordinator has done important and terrific work this year on Town properties! To enable her to continue through year end, Admin. Selig will be working with Business Manager Jablonski to see if we can identify funds elsewhere across the Town operation (likely DPW) and request a transfer of these monies from the Town Council to Land Stewardship.
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SOME PLANNED REARRANGING OF SPACE WITHIN THE TOWN HALL - Economic Development office to move from lower level basement space to first floor small conference room in late-October
When the Town Hall was originally designed in 2012/2013, Durham did not have an Economic Development Director. We hired our first part-time director in late-2013 while the facility was under construction and so a portion of storage space in the basement lower level was repurposed to become the ED Office, just beyond the kitchen/breakroom area. For several years, space in the room there was also utilized by the Durham Business Association for a desk/storage area.
In reevaluating space and usage within the facility this year, some Town Councilors and staff inquired whether we could find a more appropriate location for the office that would be easier to find for the public (people looking for the office often have trouble finding it) so we brought in the facility's original architect (and Durham resident) Art Guadano to evaluate whether it would be possible to reconfigure the Planning, Zoning, and Assessing Office to accommodate an office for this position, or place it elsewhere. To make a long story short, the easiest and most cost effective solution was to move the office to the first floor small conference room. With the new meeting room areas that have come on line at the Police Department with the renovation/addition project there (and the ability now to broadcast on DCAT from that facility as well), we should be able to make due with less conference space at the Town Hall for the time being.
The Town Hall was designed to be a living structure and to adapt over time. Now in its 6th year of operation, we plan to make this adjustment in late-October.
The space in the basement lower level currently occupied by the ED office will become flex space for meetings, interns, etc. as needed.
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EVERSOURCE-UNH-DURHAM MICROGRID PROJECT
Eversource has identified a company to conduct a technical feasibility study to assess costs and benefits of a multi-user community microgrid in its New Hampshire service territory.
As currently conceived, the microgrid would include load and generation from the University of New Hampshire campus as well as selected load and generation from the surrounding Town of Durham, including critical loads in The town center and a wastewater treatment plant serving the region powered by the Eversource overhead downtown distribution system.
In addition to existing generation, Eversource is planning to add solar generation and energy storage to add clean energy benefit to the project.
A component of the feasibility study will include sizing recommendation for the Eversource-owned solar and energy storage taking into consideration budget and land availability constraints. The project will also include deployment of microgrid control software that will be used by the Eversource New Hampshire system operations center to balance load and generation in the islanded state. UNH researchers are very interested in participating as part of this part of the program.
The feasibility study will be used to support a regulatory rate review proceeding currently filed with the NH Public Utilities Commission.
Durham is interested in exploring the feasibility of adding solar generation at the wastewater plant or on the UNH parcel immediately next to the WWTP along the Oyster River.
Researchers from UNH, representatives from the Durham Energy Committee, Admin. Selig, DPW Director Mike Lynch, Town Engineer April Talon, representatives from the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, and Eversource staff have been meeting concerning the project, including a full day conference that occurred this summer at UNH Innovations on Madbury Road to explore the far reaching research and practical components of the project.
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SEACOAST RELIABILITY PROJECT ANTICIPATED CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULE FOR MADBURY-DURHAM-UNH-LITTLE BAY as of 9/20/19
(Schedule is subject to change and will be updated periodically)
Madbury
• Survey of power line corridor, stone walls, roadways and EMF readings: Complete
o Stakes will need to be replaced periodically
o Environmental surveys are performed throughout the corridor prior to tree clearing and construction activities
• Madbury Substation construction: May – November
• Tree clearing in residential areas: Complete
• Overhead line construction from Madbury Substation to UNH: October – December
Durham
• Survey of power line corridor, stone walls, roadways and EMF readings: Complete
o Stakes will need to be replaced periodically
o Environmental surveys are performed throughout the corridor prior to tree clearingand construction activities
• Cable House Relocation (at 295 Durham Point Road): July 2019 – August 2020
o Cable House has been relocated to its temporary location
o Cable House will be returned to permanent location (after construction completion):August 2020
• Tree clearing of access roads: Complete
• Tree clearing in residential areas: July – October
o Foss Farm Road, Bennet Road, Route 108: Complete
o Cutts Road, Ffrost Drive, Sandy Brook Drive, Durham Point Road, Longmarsh Road, Timberbrook Lane: September – October
• Overhead line construction:
o UNH to Little Bay:July–December
-UNH to Mill Road – September – October
-Foss Farm Road, Bennet Road, Route 108 – September – October
-Longmarsh Road, Timberbrook Lane, Cutts Road, Ffrost Drive, Sandy Brook
Drive, Durham Point Road: October – December o Route4toUNH:October–December
o PackersFallsarea:Early2020
-Includes: Mill Road, Foss Farm Road, Bennett Road
• UNH underground duct bank construction: Complete
• UNH cable pulling (overhead to underground connection): December 2019 – January 2020
UNH
• Tree clearing: Complete
• UNH underground construction: May 2019 – January 2020
• Overhead line construction:
- Mill Road area: August - September
- Route 4 to UNH campus: October–December
- Foss Farm Road,Bennett Road: October–December
Little Bay
• Jet plow trial run: Complete
• Existing cable removal: September
• Trench excavation at shorelines: September
• Jet plow cable burial: October
• Hand jetting in Little Bay: October – November
• Concrete mattress installations: November
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Stationary jet plow in position in Little Bay with pump barge, prior to start of jet plow trial run. 11:52 AM, Sept 9, 2019. Courtesy Normandeau Associates
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EVERSOURCE JET PLOW TRIAL RUN SUMMARY RESULTS FOR SEACOAST RELIABILITY PROJECT (SRP)
This week Normandeau Associates, Eversource's environmental consultants for the SRP, released the results of the jet plow trial run that took place 9/9/19. Results were distributed to parties from the SRP proceedings before the NH Site Evaluation Committee and to state and federal environmental regulators. The following is the Executive Summary of the report, which is dated 9/17/19:
Executive Summary
"Eversource conducted a trial of the jet plow along a portion of the planned installation route for the SRP in Little Bay on September 9, 2019. There were two main purposes for the trial:
- to enable Durocher, the marine contractor, to develop a good understanding of how the jet plow performs in the site-specific conditions, and
- to conduct water quality monitoring under cable installation conditions to demonstrate ability of the project to adhere to water quality standards.
Key findings during the trial included:
- Durocher was able to test the ability of the jet plow to achieve required burial depths
- Crossing of the tidal flat was achieved while pumping minimal volumes of water through the jet plow
- Turbidity levels remained below the threshold of 19 NTUs(10 NTUs above background) at all sampling stations throughout the trial
- Total suspended solids were low throughout the trial never exceeding 44mg/L, well below the levels predicted by the plume model
- There were no exceedances of chronic or acute toxicity levels for ammonia or dissolved arsenic. There was one exceedance of the chronic toxicity level for dissolved copper (bottom sample at Station 17), but the average over three samples collected at surface, mid-depth and bottom at this time was below the chronic toxicity level.
Overall, the results of the jet plow trial indicate that the sediment plume model predictions were conservative and that installation of the cables using the jet plow can be accomplished in a manner that will not compromise the water quality of Little Bay."
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ACTIVE SHOOTER EXERCISE AT DURHAM TOWN HALL - Town Hall to CLOSE From 3 - 5PM on Monday, October 7, 2019.
On Monday, October 7, 2019, the Town Hall will be closed from 3 - 5PM to conduct an active shooter exercise developed by the Durham Police Department in which scenarios are set up to give employees and emergency responders alike important training in this area.
All Town Hall offices will reopen for regular business on Tuesday, October 8th at 8AM.
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AS RESEARCH INDICATES AN EPIDEMIC OF YOUTH E-CIGARETTE USE IN NH, STATE LAW IS AMENDED TO RESTRICT YOUTH USE OF VAPING DEVICES - Town Council likely to consider raising the age for purchasing tobacco and e-cigarette products from 18 - 21
Highlighting a growing epidemic among adolescents in New Hampshire, e-cigarettes are now the tobacco product most commonly used by youth in the state. According to the 2017 NH Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), 24 percent of high school-aged youth reported having used electronic vaping products (including e-cigarettes, e-cigars, e-pipes, vape pipes, vaping pens, e-hookahs, and hookah pens) in the past 30 days. This compares to the national average of 13%.
The dramatic increase of e-cigarette use among youth in New Hampshire over the past few years puts young people at risk for nicotine addiction.
House Bill 511, which recently became law, amends sections of NH RSA 126-K, Youth Access to and Use of Tobacco Products. These amendments:
- Modify the definitions of electronic smoking devices and liquids;
- Clarify that all tobacco product devices, e-cigarettes, or e-liquids are prohibited in any public education facility or grounds; and
- Allow minors who have a registry identification card under RSA 126-X Use Of Cannabis for Therapeutic Purposes to use devices and prescribed medications away from school grounds.
These changes reflect that keeping all tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, out of the hands of youth represents good public policy. It is anticipated that Town Councilor Kenny Rotner will be bringing forward a proposal to increase the age for purchasing cigarettes and e-cigarettes in Durham from 18 to 21.
The City of Dover last year became the first community in NH to take such a step. To learn more about Dover's initiative on NH Public Radio, click HERE.
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WAGON HILL FARM LIVING SHORELINE RESTORATION PROJECT NEARS COMPLETION
This week, Public Works Director Mike Lynch led the working group of UNH researchers/scientists, NHDES Coastal Program staff, Army Corps of Engineers staff, Aquatic Restoration and Mitigation Staff, Strafford Region Planning Commission, and Piscataqua Region Estuaries Partnership staff to Wagon Hill Farm to view the restored section of shoreline. The project is almost complete and we're working on the interpretive kiosk that is now in place to educate people about the project.
Folks from around the state have been visiting the property to see what is happening with this cutting edge project.
For those who may not have been following along from the start, the tidal shoreline along Wagon Hill Farm is exhibiting considerable erosion, partially the result of foot traffic along the shoreline. The erosion has been exacerbated by natural conditions including wind, wave, ice action, and shading from mature trees on the bank. This erosion is continuing to degrade shoreline and salt marsh habitats and has negative impacts on wildlife, shellfish, and fish habitats.
Following two phases of work to monitor, plan, and design the restoration project, this project has permitted and constructed a living shoreline salt marsh restoration project along 300 linear feet of eroding Wagon Hill Farm shoreline along with stormwater drainage management and new site access amenities.
You can learn more HERE.
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NHDES AND NHF&G SEEK FOCUS GROUP PARTICIPANTS FROM SEACOAST NH
The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department and the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services are looking for individuals to participate in one of several focus groups to better understand opinions on local environmental issues in Coastal New Hampshire.
Participants need to be at least 18 years old and either own or rent a home in Strafford or Rockingham, NH.
The focus groups will be conducted September 23-25 in the Hugh Gregg Coastal Conservation Center (Greenland, NH). There will be two time slots each evening starting at 5:30 pm and 7:30 pm and each session will last approximately 1 - 1.5 hours. Food will be provided.
If you're interested in participating, please email Cory.Riley@wildlife.nh.gov with your 1)name, 2)that you are from Durham, 3)age, and 4)preferred time slot (date and time).
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UNH GRADUATE STUDENT TO CONDUCT WATER TESTS IN OYSTER RIVER AT MILL POND - Residents may see some pink color in the river
Starting next week, September 23-27th*, UNH graduate student Eliza Balch will be conducting tests in the Oyster River as part of her research on how Nitrogen affects the health of the Great Bay ecosystem.
Part of her testing will include the use of Rhodamine Water Tracer (WT), a solute that will allow her to measure the speed of the water traveling through Mill Pond. As Balch is conducting her test residents may notice a pink color in some parts of the Oyster River near the Mill Pond, lasting for up to 2 days. Rhodamine Water Tracer (WT) is completely harmless and Balch’s use of the solution has been approved by the Department of Environmental Services (DES).
Balch grew up in Durham and is completing her M.S. in Soil and Water Resource Management. This research will benefit the Seacoast community through increased water quality and ecosystem health in the Great Bay watershed.
*Testing will be weather dependent.
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Durham Parks & Recreation hosted a trip to the Botanical Gardens this week. Courtesy Parks & Recreation
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SCHOOL BOARD NEWS – September 2019 - ORCSD/Parks & Rec. Reach Camp provide report on summer programs
At the September 18 school board meeting, the ORCSD and Durham Parks & Recreation department reported on a successful 5 weeks REACH camp. These self-funded programs provided summer enrichment and fun for hundreds of kids this summer. This is the 4th summer for this collaboration between DPR and ORCSD.
The ORCSD morning camps served over 430 campers, with 177 participating in the afternoon DPR camps this summer. The free summer lunch program served over 1600 lunches over the 5 weeks.
The school board also approved an additional school nurse position to support student health needs and selected the bond repayment schedule for the proposed new middle school.
The budget goal for 2020-2021 school year will be on the next meeting's agenda.
School board agendas and minutes, along with links to meeting videos and email addresses for board members are on the school district web site here (https://orcsd.org/school_board). Agendas are usually posted the Friday before each meeting.
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RESOLUTION OF LONGSTANDING ISSUE OVER OWNERSHIP OF TECHNOLOGY DRIVE ROADWAY AND WATER LINE EASEMENT ACROSS GOSS PROPERTY TO BEECH HILL
This week the Town executed the dedication deed for Technology Drive (the road itself) and the water line easement deed for public water infrastructure that runs across the so-called Goss property on Technology Drive developed in the 1980’s but apparently without the execution of formal legal instruments by the property owner and/or Town of Durham (alternatively such instruments perhaps once existed but have never subsequently been located by the Town/Goss and were never filed at the registry).
A similar issue came up in the recent past concerning the Beech Hill water tank and the same municipal water line across that parcel, an extremely time consuming case that went to court and ultimately resulted in a settlement in which the Town and its insurance provider, Primex, provided $500,000 in payment to settle the dispute. You can read a story about this earlier issue in Foster's Daily Democrat HERE.
Technology Drive and the water line were developed in the early 1980's to bring Harris Graphics to Durham by extending public infrastructure to the property (including the municipal sewer line under Technology Drive). Property ownership (very generally) subsequently passed to Heidelberg Web Systems, then to Goss, then to PREFCO, then to Lexington, and the business passed from Heidelberg to Goss, though Heidelberg Americas still holds an underlying lease for the parcel with Goss as a sublease tenant.
Town Engineer April Talon was the lead on developing/gathering/proofing the two boundary description documents and associated plans and exchanging/coordinating documents and did good work. With the documents now executed and filed at the Strafford County Registry of Deeds, we will schedule paving on Technology Drive. There was no additional compensation provided to Lexington/Goss/Heidelberg by Durham. Lexington in fact (now the property owner) had to obtain a sign off from Heidelberg Americas in Germany as part of this transaction, which caused a delay in processing the transaction.
Active discussions and meetings have been ongoing relative to this matter for well over a year, and in some cases extend back well over a decade.
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LITTLEHALE POND PROJECT AT BAGDAD ROAD – Expected Project Completion in October
The existing Littlehale Pond culvert is a 24” diameter corroded corrugated metal pipe with a concrete dam structure that carries the flow from Littlehale Creek and Littlehale Brook under Bagdad Road and to Beards Creek which flows under Coe Drive.
During our research and in meetings with NHDES including the Dam Bureau it was determined that the current weir structure was not registered as a dam and had various deficiencies. NHDES indicated that removing the pond and restoring it back to a flowing stream would be the best alternative to restore a healthy environment.
This project includes removing a dam structure and replacing the existing undersized culvert with a 10’ wide x 6’ high precast concrete box culvert with appropriate headwalls and associated minor roadway reconstruction work. Additional work includes the upgrade of water, sewer, and addition of innovate stormwater treatment practices. In order to move the existing waterline, a shutdown was completed in the overnight hours.
Bagdad Road will be closed to thru traffic for the duration of the project which is expected to continue into the month of October. DPW is working with the contractor on the schedule to ensure that the project is completed as expeditiously as possible.
DPW is also in communication with school administration, school bus transportation and the police department.
Miscommunication between the Town’s design consultant and the permitting agency, NHDES, caused delays in completing the permitting application process. Additionally, this project required approval from the wetlands bureau and the dam bureau which added additional requirements to the submitted application.
The culvert was installed last week and the contractor is currently working on backfilling and placing stone rip rap on the inlet and outlet.
Remaining construction includes removing the temporary stream diversion, reconstructing sewer, water and stormwater, as well as sidewalk construction, guardrail and final paving.
We appreciate everyone's patience during the last few weeks of the project.
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SOME UPDATES FROM UNH
New CNG Wildcat Buses have hit the Streets. UNH Transportation Services' newest and stylishly wrapped CNG buses are now on the street. These buses were the result of funding assistance through the USDOT Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality program and bring UNH's fleet to over 50% CNG power. This month, UNH also applied for an additional $1.2M of funding to fund four more buses in the 2019 round of this grant program, which the Town of Durham sent a letter to support.
South Drive Ext for ped, bike and special event use. This section will be gated and closed to general traffic until further upgrades are made to the roadway per the Campus Master Plan.
Main Street West Bus Pullouts. Shelter installed and awaiting installation of supplemental crosswalk lights along with real-time transit status screen.
Main Street South Sidewalk. Following archeological work this spring, the NH Dept of Historical Resources and NHDOT have approved the project moving forward to bid this winter with design modification. Currently working with Durham Heritage Commission to finalize mitigation. Project is expected to begin construction May 2020 and be completed by late August.
Wayfinding Signage. By mid-month, UNH will complete the installation of 20+ additional vehicle, pedestrian, gateway and lot identification/wayfinding signs. Combined with other sign replacements, yields >30 sign upgrades this summer – Phase III of multiyear program. Next year brings upgrades to parking lot and traffic safety signage.
Rail Station Enhancements. $974,000 for platform, site and structure improvements. UNH hopes to release a design & engineering RFP in late fall of this year following FTA award execution. Construction to begin fall 2020 with completion goal of fall 2021 - the 110th birthday of the relocation and construction of the station at this site. Working in cooperation with Town of Durham. Improvements will be coordinated with Durham relative to potential impacts to the Town's Depot Road Lot.
ZipCar. A new Zipcar pod is coming to Evergreen Drive neighborhood. This joins the pod on Depot Road and off campus on Madbury Road. Student, faculty, staff and resident plan memberships start at $15/year and cars at $7.50/hr. Monthly options also available. Current promotions at Zipcar. UNH is extending the ZipCar contract through July 2020.
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Durham resident Bertie Gerbracht celebrates her 100th birthday at The Three Chimneys this week. Courtesy Kathy Hall
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DURHAM RESIDENT BERTIE GERBRACHT CELEBRATES 100 YEARS
From time to time we are fortunate enough to include Durham's oldest citizens' milestone birthdays.
Bertie Gerbracht of 13 Perley Lane (Kathy Hall's mom) celebrated her 100th Birthday with 60 guests at Three Chimneys Inn last Sunday. Her actual birthday was on Monday September 16th. The photo shows Bertie with her youngest great grandson about to blow out the candles on her birthday cake.
Happy birthday, Mrs. Gerbracht, and congratulations from the Town of Durham.
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UNH FALL YOUTH PROGRAMS – registrations are open for over 25 programs for Durham area students ages 5-18.
Visit UNH web site for local youth programs by clicking HERE and scroll through the subject blocks to view and enroll.
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EAT THE INVASIVE SPECIES + BREWERY AND FARM TOURS -
Wednesday September 25th 2019 4-6pm Barton Hall (across from the Greenhouses) Free and open to the Public!
Members of the greater Durham community are invited to join the UNH department of Agriculture, Nutrition, and Food Systems along with New Hampshire SeaGrant for a fun and tasty event!
The green crab is an invasive species that has wreaked ecological and economic havoc along the New England coast. There are a lot of ways to eat these little guys and they are also fun to harvest yourself. At this event UNH will have information available and will help answer any questions participants may have.
If interested in Sustainability, Food Production, Brewing, or just want to see friends eat a tiny green crab like popcorn, stop by and say hello! Organizers will have small bites made with green crabs, homemade seltzer and soda from the UNH brewery, harvesting, recipe, and homebrew instructions.
There will also be tours of the brewery (with tastes of their invasive seaweed beer), tours of the high tunnels, and tours of the baby chicks at the poultry facility.
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DURHAM FARMERS' MARKET - Each Monday afternoon in the Sammy's downtown lot off Pettee Brook Lane
Be sure to stop by the Durham Farmers' Market being held on Monday afternoons at the Sammy's/Store 24 Parking Lot. A variety of locally produced farm products, prepared foods, and fine crafts will be available Mondays 2:15 - 6:00 PM.
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“DRUG TAKE BACK’ PROGRAM AT DURHAM POLICE
This initiative of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has been a national success with previous events occurring in New Hampshire taking in an astounding 276 tons of unwanted or expired medications! So resounding was the success to fill this void that Chief Kurz decided to provide the program on a continuous basis to the residents of Durham. Residents can drop off unwanted or expired prescriptions at the Durham Police facility Monday through Friday from 8AM to 5PM for no cost and it’s all anonymous!
Doing so prevents prescription drug abuse as six out of ten teenagers who have taken prescription narcotics state that they get them from their parents or relative’s medicine cabinets. Additionally, using this service keeps trace drugs out of our lakes, streams and estuaries as wastewater treatment plants cannot remove many of the compounds found in medications; so when flushed or put in a landfill, drugs are discharged into our surface and ground water and consumed by fish and wildlife. If you have a question about this service that is provided to Durham residents only, please call the Durham Police during business hours Monday through Friday at 603-868-2324.
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Durham Fire Inspector Matt Wilder assists a student on how to properly use a fire extinguisher. Courtesy DFD
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SEPTEMBER IS CAMPUS FIRE SAFETY MONTH!
We recently welcomed back UNH students to campus and many of those students have not received fire safety education since elementary school. Campus Fire Safety Month has been established in order to increase awareness of how quickly fires can occur and what precautions should be taken to increase safety. Durham Firefighters demonstrated proper use of fire extinguishers for University Day on Tuesday, September 10th. The National Fire Protection Association has a safety checklist and a tip sheet to help guide students on how to be safe whether they live on or off campus. More information can be found HERE.
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Durham resident Suzanne MacDonald featured in this week's UNH Coop Ext. Newsletter Courtesy UNH
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WAGON HILL COMMUNITY GARDENS - A tribute to Suzanne Macdonald
The idea of having a community garden was on Suzanne MacDonald’s mind for years. Her dream was realized 11 years ago when Wagon Hill Community Garden in Durham was formed. Yet, the dream did not materialize instantly and there was back-stepping along the way.
Learn more in a very interesting article published by UNH Cooperative Extension HERE.
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AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION PROVIDES STATEMENT TO TOWN COUNCIL RELATIVE TO OYSTER AQUACULTURE APPLICATIONS FOR OYSTER RIVER
This week the Durham Agricultural Commission shared the following statement with the Town Council regarding the three aquaculture permits being reviewed by NH Fish and Game for the Oyster River:
The Durham Agricultural Commission has reviewed the information made available for the proposed aquaculture operations in the Oyster River and supports the proposals. We believe that the locations are appropriate, the operations have been vetted by NH Fish and Game, and an increase in aquaculture production is keeping with the Agricultural Commission’s directive to promote, enhance, and encourage local food production, agricultural resources, and agricultural-based economic opportunities.
The Town Council received a presentation from a representative of NH Fish & Game at its last meeting concerning the three proposals and took feedback from the public. The Council will develop a recommendation in October after considering all of the input it receives for presentation to NH Fish & Game by November 2.
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One of several trail bridges built by volunteers at Doe Farm. Courtesy Ellen Snyder
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VOLUNTEER WORK DAY AT DOE FARM: SATURDAY, SEPT 28TH
Please join us on Saturday, September 28th from 8:30 am to 1:00 pm for a volunteer work at Doe Farm. We will be working on the following:
- build two foot bridges on the Lower Loop.
- Trailbrush out the new trail on Moat Island.
- Install trail juncture sign posts
Hope you can join us….sign up HERE. We will have all the tools. Just bring work gloves and a water bottle and meet at the clearing. This will also be a great opportunity to enjoy one of Durham’s crown jewel conservation areas that includes wonderful trail loops along the Wild & Scenic Lamprey River, picnic areas, beautiful forests, historic features, and more. For more information contact Ellen Snyder, mailto:ellensnyder1@gmail.com, Durham Land Stewardship Coordinator)
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IT’S BUDGET SEASON, SO PLEASE EXCUSE THE DELAY IN MR. SELIG FOLLOWING UP ON EMAILS, VOICEMAILS, LETTERS, ETC.
Budget season is upon us in Durham and as such, Administrator Selig is actively working with the Business Office and our various department, boards, committees, and commissions in formulating a proposed budget for consideration by the Town Council. By Town Charter, Mr. Selig has until the last business day in October to propose a budget to the Council. The Council then has until the last business day in December to adopt a budget of its own, or the Administrator’s proposed budget becomes the FY 2020 budget by default.
At this time of year, Mr. Selig is in constant budget meetings, in additional to normal responsibilities, and as such responding to correspondence is typically delayed. Urgent matters should be sent to the attention of Administrative Assistant Jennie Berry, mailto:jberry@ci.durham.nh.us.
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REMINDER! HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE DAY - Morning of Saturday, October 26, 2019
The 2019 Household Hazardous Waste Day will be held at the Department of Public Works facility located at 100 Stone Quarry Drive. As in the past, all hazardous waste will be collected by appointment only, between 8 - 11:30 AM. To register, you must call DPW at 603-868-5578 or mailto:publicworks@ci.durham.nh.us. REMEMBER - THE MAXIMUM COLLECTED PER HOUSEHOLD IS FIVE GALLONS. NO EXPLOSIVE MATERIALS, RADIOACTIVE WASTE, ASBESTOS, SILVEX OR INFECTIOUS/BIOLOGICAL WASTE WILL BE ACCEPTED.
NOT ACCEPTED AT HAZARDOUS WASTE DAY - LATEX AND OLD-BASED PAINTS, MOTOR OIL, AND ANTI-FREEZE. These items can be brought up to the Transfer Station with a permit throughout the year. Latex paints must be dried out first, motor oil, anti-freeze and oil-based paints can go up as is. Typically, hazardous waste is categorized as toxic, ignitable, corrosive, reactive, or otherwise hazardous. Please check the manufacturer's label.
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"NO CALL IS TOO SMALL" - If you see something wrong, odd, or not quite right, please call the Durham Police
With the beginning of the UNH academic year it's a great time to discuss that the very essence of community policing is that the community and the police work together to confront crime and the fear of crime.
The vast majority of Durham residents understand that the police cannot be everywhere simultaneously to observe criminal or suspicious activity as it occurs and the department finds it difficult to patrol residential areas with the frequency residents, businesses and the police prefer. So Chief Kurz urges you to contact the police at 868-2324 or 911 if you see, hear or sense something is not quite right. An officer will respond quickly and resolve what may or may not be a criminal activity. When law enforcement works directly with residents and businesses we collectively are going a long way toward reducing crime, improving quality of life, and enhancing public safety.
Additionally there needs to be a statement about home-grown terrorism. Sadly we need to be constantly vigilant to “things that just don’t seem right”. In the aftermath of every horrific mass shooting that we watch on the news, friends, acquaintances and others who had interacted with the shooter seem to discuss these “things” that when taken in totality begin to draw a picture of deep concern.
The Durham Police have taken assertive steps to visit and interview those in our community who were overheard, posted violence related pictures and/or videos or were portrayed as acting suspicious. In all instances the police were met with a cooperative attitude and an understanding of how their actions may cause concern, especially in the current environment. So while we are all concerned about a person’s privacy, if you see something, say something, the Durham Police want you to know that “No Call Is Too Small”
DURHAM POLICE MEET WITH RIVERWOODS DURHAM ABOUT EMERGENCY PLANNING
Chief Kurz and the staff of the Durham Police are meeting with officials from RiverWoods to collaborate on emergency planning strategies at the facility. With a number of new residents beginning to move into the complex within the next month, collaborative meetings to assess the safety mechanisms of the large facility and to contemplate a variety of strategies to ensure everyone’s safety is a logical next step.
PEDESTRIANS NEED TO BE SEEN TOO! - Wear bright/reflective clothes if out at night and make sure you can be seen by motorists/cyclists
As the time change approaches, pedestrians are reminded that they too should wear bright/light colored clothing and reflective materials whenever they are on the side of a roadway without sidewalks.
Always attempt to cross the street in a well-lit area or go to the corner of an intersection where a street light is located. Always stand clear of large vehicles such as buses, hedges, parked cars, or other obstacles before crossing so drivers can see you.
Don’t assume you can be seen by vehicle operators!
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WEEKLY ARREST REPORT FROM DURHAM POLICE
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A skeleton with sunglasses and hat (!) was spotted at the ORMS this week during the school's open house for parents. Courtesy Todd Selig
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HISTORY IN AN OYSTERSHELL - A Brief History of Durham, NH 1600 - 1976 (A little volume that was the Heritage Project of the Durham Historic Association Bicentennial celebration)
Preface - "Since before God made the first little green apples, oysters have probably been growin in the Oyster River; and some of the largest and juiciest to be found anywhere in the world are still growing here today. The following vignettes from rollicking history of Durham town on the Oyster River are therefore presented between the shells of an oyster."
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1938 - Renovation and coordination of the various sewage disposal systems was initiated at the Town Meeting. Construction began in 1947. Three major stages have been accomplished and the 4th is currently in process. Nearly 40% of the homes are now on the sewer system.
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Have a very good weekend. Saturday and Sunday look like sun...
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Todd
Todd I. Selig, Administrator
Town of Durham, NH
a: 8 Newmarket Rd., Durham, NH 03824 USA
t: 603.868.5571 | w: www.ci.durham.nh.us | e: tselig@ci.durham.nh.us
He/him/his pronouns
Everyone can tackle climate change. How can you reduce your carbon footprint?
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